A CHORISTER impersonated Hitler in front of German guests during an internationally renowned music festival at Worcester Cathedral.

David Barclay has apologised after impersonating the Nazi leader in front of German guests at the Three Choirs Festival, admitting his actions were “inappropriate”.

His outburst led to him being ejected from the festival, held between July 26 and August 2 at Worcester Cathedral.

An ongoing theme this year was the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, when Britain went to war with Germany - making the outburst even more embarrassing for organisers. Mr Barclay is a former director of music at Pershore Abbey and his most recent appointment was as principal cantoris tenor lay clerk at Worcester Cathedral.

Ironically, the lyric tenor is known for his talented renditions of German music, including works by Bach and Schumann.

A letter to your Worcester News, describing the incident, said: “Worcester Cathedral, host of the Three Choirs Festival is harbouring a racist.

“David Barclay, who sings with the Cathedral Choir has been suspended for impersonating Hitler in front of our German visiting singers and talking of ‘removing their clothes and showering them’.

“Witnessed by many of us, he was dismissed from the festival and faces a hearing regarding his future in the choir.”

It went on to say: “Many things in the past are swept under the carpet, the Cathedral are happy to deal with this behind closed doors but we feel this should be made public.”

This 287th meeting of the three choirs of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester featured a joint commissioning with Chemnitz Opera of A Foreign Field, by German composer Torsten Rasch, which aims to move ‘beyond reconciliation’.

Your Worcester News contacted David Barclay who said in an e-mailed statement: “I’m very sorry for any offence I caused during the Three Choirs Festival.

“I completely understand why what happened was inappropriate. I have apologised to the festival organisers and to the Cathedral and would like to offer my heartfelt apologies to all those who were present.”

The Very Reverend Peter Atkinson, Dean of Worcester, said: “A member of the Three Choirs Festival chorus was dismissed from the festival after highly offensive remarks were reported.

“The person concerned has also been disciplined by the Cathedral. The Cathedral does not condone racism in any form, and deeply regrets the offence caused to those who witnessed it.”

Mr Barclay, born in Not tingham in 1971, sang as a treble in the parish church choir. He went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, under the Scottish tenor William McAlpine.

His first appointment was in Liverpool as a lay clerk at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, where he began teaching singing at St Edward’s College. Early in 2005 he was appointed director of music at Pershore Abbey.

His most recent appointment is that of principal cantoris tenor lay clerk at Worcester Cathedral, which began in September 2008.